Renshaw to captain young Aussie XI squad

MATT Renshaw will captain an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI to face England in the visitors’ only warm-up match ahead of this month’s one-day series.

Renshaw is the only player with senior international experience named in the typically inexperienced side, while fringe Australian quick Chadd Sayers will also play at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval next Thursday.

The Big Bash League means no players who have previously represented Australia in limited-overs cricket have been selected, with the average age of the squad just 22.

But Australia’s national selector and talent manager Greg Chappell insisted the side could test England ahead of the five-match one-day series.

“We’ve tried to get the most competitive team possible, bearing in mind Australian and BBL commitments,” Chappell said.

“It’s great to have the quality and experience of Matt Renshaw and Chadd Sayers in the side, and also five others who have played Sheffield Shield cricket this season, including Travis Dean, Jake Doran and John Dalton.

“This is a quality opportunity for all players involved, and hopefully this side will give England a good test ahead of the series against Australia.”

Dropped for the first Test of the Ashes, Renshaw has been without a quality game since early December and has spent recent weeks warming the bench for the Brisbane Heat.

The squad follows on from England’s three warm-up matches before the Ashes, against Western Australian and CA XIs. CA XI SQUAD: Matt Renshaw (C), Gabe Bell, Jake Carder, John Dalton, Travis Dean, Jake Doran, Daniel Fallins, David Grant, Mackenzie Harvey, Harry Nielsen, Ben Pengelley, Chadd Sayers.